Cornhusking mechanism



Feb. 14, 1950 D. CURRIE CORN HUSKING MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1947 INVENTOR. Duga Id Curr/e BY W XM Patented Feb. 14, 1950 A-pplicatioifilune 12,

J 2:;Claims.

-This invention relates generally to 601 1143101!- ing machines and in particular to I a c0rn husk ing mechanism for suchmachines.

Manyof the corn" husking me'chanisms 'nowin ing :rolls arranged -"in---asubstantially -horizontal parall'el reiation -an'd.-'- having -their' peripheries variously' formed to :provide a huskremoving or gripping action therebetween. The rolls arecon- -i=nected together at one of their ends by a train --r. of: gears =to provide"for theirlbeing drivenfrom a common drivegwith adjacent rolls rotated-inopllposite directions. *Husking'mechanisms of this 'stype are generally "satisfactory in operation' but ridifiiculties i are encountere'd in obtaining: a de- .ersired gripping action between the rolls --over any sustained'period of use becauseof the" husks--berooming wrapped: about the rolls. -A further objection is foundinthe fact that the wrapped xhusks tendzto travel-toward: one: end of the rolls Land; collect atz"such .xend. As 'a result eexcessive iewear stakes place' bdtlr on the rolls arid thebearlzingsl forthe rolls.

3 It-is .'a;n zobjectiiof :this:invention; theref0re, to :"provide an improvedx corn-husking mechanism.

further:objeet;.;of thissinverition is to provide :aazcorn huskingune'chanism in whicmwrapping of removed 'L husks ;;about the .-r'o11s is "substantially i'eliminated.

:Another :objectrotthisi'invention. is to provide a husking mechanism in whichstheirolls are of -:--:a' substantiallyismo'oth.zcontourcover their'ifull ilengthsand1:concurrently :operable :awithout: the w nced: fonther-usuah seriestotagears iatir'one of? their rends.

A furtheriiobje'ct of. this:invention'risltoiprovide ea; husking= mechanism whichris :ohascompactand rugged "construction-,1 economical tormanufacture, :Landefiicientrmoperationfover;prolongediperiods ofzuse' with a" minimumsofservicingxanmmaim. n-ttenancez attention.

."A-ieature of this inventionissfoundrin the :prosvisionofa husking-mechanismin which'sa pair ire-of rolls are-arranged ini-aparallelaspa'ced;relation .a-ndan intermediate roll. is extended-s; axially; =be-o tween andabove-the plane of suchpairiofiarolls. A flat" continuous :combinationi,huskingsand drive vbelt, which travelss. about Shh-e :-pair of rollstv and ...against. the undersidezof the; intermediaterollgsis eof a width substantially :coextensive with: the

:length Of IhGII OHS. @On rotationvofethezrolls:a rhuskingractionztakes place between:-the-- belt-.and

one of the sides of the intermediate roll, with the removed. husks fbeing carriedtontthesbelt iomdischargeifromtthe mechanism,

:Eurther ..objects, features and :;advantages of zithis invention wilkbecomeapparent from theiolslowing descriptionrvhen taken in connectiomwith ';;-thes,accompanyingdrawings;v in which:

1 general use usually includeaplurality-of husk- Fig. :1, is .:a ;perspective view.;.of thewhusking .tsmechanism of this-invention .with certain parts -broken1away 1 f.or:;the :purpose; of clarity;

rFigf 2 sisoa' transverse ;sectional :view'; as :seen scalar-1g.;the1ine.--2+2;inaFig.;.1

sFigg-Brisfa; foreshortened"longitudinal sectional .wiewtaken on.the';lines3- J3. -in-Fig52 and s Fi'g. -zis ans-enlarged: sectionaldetail tview' as iz seenxonrtheline 4- in Fig.1.

frWith ireferenceto-ithe drawings, the husking v1'15 mechanism of this invention is illustrated in -Fig.

' l -as including: a: substantially rectangulartrame structure I U;- haVing---end' angle -members= I I and t I a connected betweenoppositeendsof side angle member-s12. Arranged on-each of the end membersi I-and H a, ina-spa-cedrelation transversely pose which-"will appear flater. i-Threepairs of '---bearings I 3: and two" pairs 'of the bearings I 4 are illustrated-in;the*drawings.

Rollers [6,111 and '18, all of alike construction, rarerotatably supported in.thei bearings, l3. For the purpose of convenience therollers Land l8 will hereinafterbe referred to as endv rollersrand ithe roller: 11 as..a,center vor, intermediate is roller. TRotatably. supportedinithe bearings l tare a pair 35 ,ofrlikerdllersllii andZli, ofeandiameter somewhat ssmallersthan theidiameter ;of,,the, rolls 16," I1, and ll 8, and arranged; between. the intermediate, roll 1 l l and amend roll 16 and 1.8.

A11.of,.the rollsl'fir-vlll inclusive, ifi'igsr Land 2) are in a spaced-parallelrelation: extended longitudinally. of the frame: structure l 0; with the rolls 01B, IL: and. fl 8 :ibeingjz arran ed --in ;one-,;common plane indicated at-A; and the 7 rolls: 9 and :20 in a second common plane, indicaiiedratfBw h' g s-is above land-parallel; to. the planeA. In,;the;fol-

51 the top sides of the ro1lsi i6,:-ll-%nd;il .randlin frictional engagement with the undersides of the upper rolls I9 and 20.

Rotation of the rolls is accomplished by a drive gear 22 mounted on a rearward extension 23 of the shaft 24 for the end roll I8. The gear 22, or a like member, is suitably connected with a source of power supply. On rotation of the roll I8, therefore, all of the rolls I6, I! and I8 are rotated in a like direction, and the upper rolls I9 and 20 are rotated in a reverse direction. Thus, as illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 3, the rolls I6, I! and I8 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and the upper rolls I9 and 20 are rotated in a clockwise direction. It is seen, therefore, that the belt 2| constitutes a common drive for the rolls I6, I'I, I9 and 20, with only the roll I8 being directly connected with a source of power supply.

The tension of the belt 2| is adjusted by having the bearings for the end roll I6, indicated at I3a, adjustably supported for movement longitudinally of the end members H and Ila. This is accomplished by the provision of bolts 26 (Fig. 4) threadable in the bottom side of the bearings I3a and extended through slots 21 formed in the angle end members II and Ila. Adjustment bolts 28 have one end secured in the bearings I3a and their opposite ends slidably extended through upright supports 29 carried on the end members II and. Na. Nuts 3| for the adjustment bolts 28 are engageable with the upright supports 29. On adjustment of the nuts 3| to a desired tension for the belt 2|, the bolts 26 are tightened to hold the bearings I3a in their adjusted positions.

The belt 2| is maintained against movement axially of the rolls by V-shaped flexible guides 32 (Figures 2 and 3) provided at its opposite sides. The guides 32 are received in corresponding annular grooves 33 formed in the opposite ends of the rolls I6, I? and I8.

A corn hopper 34, of an open frame structure, is supported on the frame structure It at a I position above the rolls by the provision of supports 36 which are carried on the side frame members I2. The side walls 31 and 38 of the hopper 34 are extended longitudinally above the upper roll I9 and the end roll' I8, respectively. The forward end of the hopper 34 is open and its rear end wall 40 is positioned forwardly of the end frame member I la.

In the operation of the husking mechanism of this invention the frame structure I6 is inclined downwardly and forwardly. With the rolls and the belt 2| in operation, ears of corn are supplied to the hopper 34 at its upper or rear end, and moved to its open or forward end by the action of gravity. The rotation of the upper rolls I9 and 20 and the movement of the upper length of the belt 2| provides for the positioning of the ears longitudinally of the upper rolls I9 and 26, so that the ears in lengthwise positions are moved along the downwardly moving sides Ida, and 20a of the upper rolls.

Stated otherwise, the substantially V-shape spaces 39, formed between the adjacent sides of the rolls I9 and I1, and 20 and I8, constitute corn troughs. The positioning of the ears to travel lengthwise in the troughs 39- is facilitated by the provision of weighted arms 4| which are pivotally carried between a pair of the supports 36 for up and down pivotal movement, and arranged so that their lower ends 42 extend across the troughs 39 in supported positions on the upper rolls I9 and 20.

During the downward movement of the corn ears the husks are removed by the gripping action which occurs between the belt 2| and the sides I9a and 20a of the upper rolls. This gripping action is supplemented by the provision of oppositely arranged longitudinally extended grooves 43 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed in the upper rolls I9 and 20.

The removed husks are carried on the top length of the belt 2| and discharged over the end roll IE to one side of the husking mechanism. It is seen, therefore, that the belt 2| functions to both drive the rolls I6, I'I, I9 and 20, from the end roll I8, and in combination with the upper rolls to remove husks from the ears of corn supplied to the hopper 34.

To assure a travel of the husks, removed by the action of the roll 20, over the intermediate roll I! and under the upper roll I9, there is provided a deflector member 44 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of a generally square shape in transverse cross section, which is carried between a pair of upright supports 46 on the frame end members II and Ma. The deflector 44 extends longitudinally of the frame structure I0 in an upwardly spaced relation between the center roll I! and the upper roll 20, with a pair of opposite corners thereon arranged in a substantially common vertical plane.

As the husks pass outwardly from between the roll 20 and the upper length of the belt 2|, they are engaged and directed by the inclined side 48 of the deflector member 44 for travel over the center roll I! and underneath the upper roll I9. In other words, the deflector 44 acts to bend the leading ends of the husks, as the husks emerge from underneath the roll 20, in a direction over the center roll I1 and toward the underside of the upper roll I9.

In one embodiment of the invention the rolls I6 to 20, inclusive, are about three feet in length, with the rolls I6, I1 and I8 being about three inches in diameter, and the upper rolls I9 and ,2I'I about two and three-eighths inches in diameter. The annular grooves 33 in the rolls are about three-eighths inches deep and the belt 2| is about one-eighth of an inch thick. In this embodiment the planes A and B for the rolls I6, I! and I8, and the upper rolls I9 and 20, respectively, are spaced about three-quarters of an inch apart.

From the above description it is seen that the invention provides a husking mechanism which is of a simple and compact construction, and in which all of the rolls are of a substantially smooth peripheral contour. Further, only the end roll I8 isprovided with a gear for connection with a source of power supply, and all of the remaining rolls are driven from the end roll I8 by the common continuous belt 2|. Further, the belt 2| acts in combination with the upper rolls I9 and 20 to remove the husks from the ears of corn as they move lengthwise in the corn troughs 39. As the husks are removed they are carried by the top side of the belt 2| for discharge from the husking mechanism at varying positions over the length of the end roll I6.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with three rolls, I6, I! and I8, and'a pair of upper rolls I9 and 20, it is apparent that any desired number of rolls may be used depending upon the size of the husking mechanism desired.

It is to be understood also that although the invention has been described with respect 'to a preferred embodiment thereof, that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A corn husliing mechanism including a frame structure, a plurality of rolls, means rotatably supporting said rolls in a parallel relation spaced transversely of said frame structure, with the end rolls and an intermediate roll having their aXes in a common plane, and certain of the remaining rolls having their axes in a second common plane spaced upwardly from said first mentioned common plane and between adjacent rolls in said first common plane, with said rolls being relatively constructed such that the rolls in said second common plane have their lower sides substantially at the level of said first common plane, and their upper sides above the level of the upper sides of the rolls in said first common plane, a continuous combination drive and husking belt of a width substantially coextensive with the length of said rolls arranged to travel below said end rolls and between the rolls in said two planes, whereby to be in contact engagement with all of said rolls, and means for driving one of said rolls.

2. In a corn husking mechanism including a frame structure, a pair of rolls having their axes in a common plane and rotatably supported in a parallel relation spaced transversely of said frame structure, a third roll positioned in a parallel relation with and between said pair of rolls with its axis spaced upwardly from said common plane, a continuous combination husking and drive belt of a width substantially coextensive with the length of said rolls having its lower length extended along the undersides of said pair of rolls and its top length in contact with the underside of said third roll and the upper sides of said pair of rolls, with the third roll having a diameter relative to the diameters of said pair of rolls such that the upper side thereof is above the upper sides of said pair of rolls and the opposite lateral side portions of said third roll form with the belt portions adjacent thereto substantially V-shape troughs having their apex ends terminating substantially in said common plane, and means for driving one of said rolls.

DUGALD CURRIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 535,192 Campbell Mar. 5, 1895 552,606 Campbell et a1. Jan. 7, 1896 613,424 Rickey Nov. 1, 1898 770,689 Hidy Sept. 20, 1904 822,187 Conover May 29, 1906 898,392 Springer Sept. 8, 1908 1,268,345 Hahn June 4, 1918 

